Normandy by bike: from the Landing beaches to Mont-Saint-Michel

Normandy by bike: from the Landing beaches to Mont-Saint-MichelUtah Beachfr

With over 500 km of landscaped green paths, Normandy offers a range of themed itineraries that mix biking, heritage and gastronomy. Among its bike routes is an itinerary that takes you from the famed Landing beaches to the emblematic Mont-Saint-Michel, while passing through Bayeux (noted for its tapestry museum.)

This trip also presents the opportunity to discover the natural regional park of the Cotentin and Bessin wetlands and also takes a more athletic path to traverse the Vire gorges.

Normandy offers two itineraries that trace this path to Mont-Saint-Michel, one which leaves from Sainte Marie-du-Mont (Utah Beach) and the other from Arromanches (Gold Beach).

Itinerary 1: leaving from Saint Marie-du-Mont

Stage 1: Ste-Marie-du-Mont / Carentan

Stage 2: Carentan / Saint-Lô

From the seaside town of Carentan, whose city center is testimony to its past as a trade hub, you will follow along the Cotentin marshes until you reach the green path in Saint-Fromond. Continuing along the river Vire, you will travel to Saint-Lô.

Stage 3: Saint-Lô / Souleuvre Viaduct

You will follow along the Vire on a green path to Pont-Farcy. From here, you will take small routes in typical Norman bocage that offer panoramic views of the Vire gorges. This route will take you to the Souleuvre viaduct, a regional point of interest for thrill-seekers.

Stage 4: Souleuvre Viaduct / Mortain

From the viaduct, you will take a green way from Graverie to Vire. This path starts again a few miles west of the Vire, allowing you to enjoy the view of the rolling hills. From here you will continue on to Mortain, known for its waterfalls and bocage landscape.

Stage 5: Mortain / Ducey

From Romagny, follow the green way that crosses the Mont-Saint-Michel bay county winding along the river Sélune, presenting beautifully preserved landscapes.You will ride past Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, Isigny-le-Buat to reach Ducey, a town with traditional architecture.

Stage 6: Ducey / Mont-Saint-Michel

From Ducey, follow the rivers Sée and Sélune to reach the town of Pontaubault where you leave the green way, then take quiet country roads offering unique views of the Bay and the Mont Saint-Michel.

Itinerary 2: leaving from Arromanches

Stage 1: Arromanches / Bayeux

You will leave the Landing beaches, the site of two strategic ports used in 1944 (Port-en-Bessin et Arromanches) and continue in the direction of Bayeux, the first city to be liberated which was miraculously spared from combat.

Stage 2: Bayeux / Villers-Bocage

From Bayeux you will head in the direction of Mont-Saint-Michel while passing through the Norman bocage, taking a detour to admire the Juaye-Mondaye abbey. You can visit sites of the Battle of Normandy and marvel at vast panoramic views.

Stage 3: Villers-Bocage / Souleuvre viaduct

You will continue towards Cahagnes from Villers-Bocage. Following along the path of the liberation, taking a path through the bocage landscape to the Souleuvre viaduct.

Stage 4: Souleuvre Viaduct / Mortain

From the viaduct, you will take a green way from Graverie to Vire. This path starts again a few miles west of the Vire, allowing you to enjoy the view of the rolling hills. From here you will continue on to Mortain, known for its waterfalls and bocage landscape.

Stage 5: Mortain / Ducey

From Romagny, follow the green way that crosses the Mont-Saint-Michel bay county winding along the river Sélune, presenting beautifully preserved landscapes.You will ride past Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, Isigny-le-Buat to reach Ducey, a town with traditional architecture.

Stage 6: Ducey / Mont-Saint-Michel

From Ducey, follow the rivers Sée and Sélune to reach the town of Pontaubault where you leave the green way, then take quiet country roads offering unique views of the Bay and the Mont Saint-Michel.